Stack-spacer for slicing-machines.



C. F. M. VAN BERKEL.

STACKSPACER Fon suclNG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILEDVOCT. l0. |917.

Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

i?? @ym 9/ WM'MLW C. F. M. VAN BERKEL. STACK SPACER FOR SLICINCMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. l0, 1917.

Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 /wwzzof/ CaZeLS juf/77. Va WEIQ 7%7'5/71 @L SCSY/AsrATEfs CORNELIS F. 1V[. VAN BERKEL, OF-LAPORTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 U.S, SLICING 1 e "Il a... a L- .1.

lM:.4\.CHI1\TIE COMPANY, OF LAPORTE, INDIANA, A. CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

remesa..

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 15, 11919..

Application med o'ctober 1o, 1917. serial No. leases.

Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this inventlon 1s to provide mechanism of the characternamed which y shall be of improved construction' and more efficient,economical, and convenient in operation than devices of a similar naturepreviously known.

The construction is exemplified in the combination and arrangement ofparts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the followingspecification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings Y y Figure 1 is a top plan View of a slicing machineshowing one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary perspective views showing details ofconstruction. i

This invention may be applied to slicing machinesl of various kinds andis shown in the drawings as applied to .one of the forms of suchmachines, which is well known in the art. The machine there shown isprovided i with a supporting frame 1 upon which a-l'refciprocating meattable 2 is mounted,vthe table 2 being provided with a meat plate 3arranged to slide upon the reciprocating table 2 at right angles to thedirection of reciprocation thereof. VThe meat plate 3 is provided with aclamp 4 for holding the meat or other material to be sliced, shown at 5,in place. A reciprocatory motion is imparted to the table 2 by means ofa crank 6 driven in a well known manner by a hand wheel 7. Thereciprocation of the table 2 moves the meat into engagement with theknife 8, by means of which the slices are cut, and the meat is fedforward the thickness of a slice by the meat plate 3 once for eachreciprocation of the meat table. The feeding movement of the meatplate,l is accomplished bv a ratchet device shown at 9 in the drawings.which may be of any one of a number of well known forms ofconstruction.y

The slices as they arelcut bythe knife 8 are recelvedon ointed tines 10which are mounted on uprlght bars 11 which connect a pair of chains 12,the linksl of which are guided in grooves 13 and 14 in upper and lowerguide plates 15 and 16 respectively. The bars 11 are connected by a pin17 and a leverA 18 with the reciprocating table 2, so that the tines 10move in unison with the meat 5 ,during a slicing operation'and arecaused to pierce the slice as it is formed and thus to support the sliceand conduct it around the curved end of the guides 15 and `16. A pivotedHy 19 is provided with a series of ngers 20 which enter between the.prongs 10 behind the slice of meat when the slice is carried yaroundvthe curved portions 0f the guides l5 and 16 to the front side of theslice receiving portion of theimachine. The Hy 19 is caused to rotateabout its pivotal support by a lever 21 andV a link 22, the link beingoperated by cam mechanism connected with the main drive shaft of the machine. The arrangement is such that the fly 19 will be moved into ahorizontal position at thetime that the slice is brought by the tines 10to the front of the slice receiving portion of the machine, and thus theslice will be swung into a horizontal position and discharged downwardlyfrom the fly 19, and thus stacked upon any horizontal platform that maybe provided for receiving,

slices. 'This slice stacking mechanism forms the subject matter of myco-pending applicaf In practice the amount of meat which can v be slicedfrom a given piece without re-adjustment of the clamp on the slidingmeat plate is usually about live inches and in some forms of meat, such.as bacon, in which the slices are comparatively narrow, it Vis notpractical to form a stack of slices of a height formed during a singleseries of forward vmovements of the feed table, are distributed into anumber of separate stacks, so that each stack will oontainonly asmany'slices as will easily remain in position, without frame ofthemachine.

the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the mechanism isarranged to d1- vide the slices formed from the piece of meat, duringthe forward movement of the meat plate, into three stacks which wouldvmake each stack have a height of one and Y two-third inches, assumingthat themeat' plate has a forward movement of five inches; To accomplishthe distribution of the slices into a plurality of stacks, a platform,25 is arranged to receive the slices as they,

are discharged by the fiy 19 and is supported on rollers 26 which travelon guideways '27 formed on the upper surface ofV themain frame 1. A belt28 passes around a pulley 29 carried at the outer edge of the platform 1and has its inner end secured to a spring drum 30 mounted on'the rearportion of the machine frame. The belt 28 is connected to the platform25 by a downwardly extending arm 31 and the tendency of the spring drum3() is to draw the platform 25 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. Theplatform y25 is held against movement under the iniluence of the drum 30by a catch 32 on the end of an arm 33 which is ivoted at 34 -to theblock 35 is secured to the under surface of the platform 25 and isprovided with a series of shoulders 37, 38 and 39 against which thecatch 32 rests to hold the platform 25 from outward movement. A spring40 presses the catch 32 into engagement with the shoulders on the blockThe upper edge of the rear portion of the arm 33 is shaped as shown inFig. 3 and is provided with three horizontally extending surfaces 41, 42and.43, there being inclined shoulders 44 and 45 between thehorizontally extending portions of the upper surface'of the arm.Extending inwardly from the horizontal surfaces 42 and 43 are portionsof the arm 46 and 47 respectively, which are beveled inwardly anddownwardly, and similar beveled portions 48 and 49 lie adjacent theinclined shoulders 44 and 45. A downwardly extending bar 50 is connectedby a bracket 51 to the sliding meat plate 3 and the lower end of the barhas its forward portion beveled, as shown at 52 in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, and its outer edge beveled as shown at 53. The squared endportion 54 of the bar 50 is arranged to rest upon the surfaces 41. 42 or-43 when the reciprocating table 2 is at its extreme position to theright, as shown in Fig. 1.

At the beginning of a slicing operation the piece of meat is clampedupon the meat plate 3 by the clamp 4 and the platform 25 is pushedinwardly until the catch 32 engages the shoulder 37. This will bring theplatform 25 into position to receive slices from the fly 19 near itsforward edge to form a stack of slices shown at in the drawings. During'this period of the operation of the machine the bar 50 will be adjacentthe surface` 41 of the lever 33 and will Y. pass over the top rof thatsurface at each returnof the reciprocating table 21 to its startingposition. As the meat plate 3 is fed forwardly by the ratchet mechanism9, the

bar. 50 will move toward the surface 42until lfinally the `end of thebarfwillstrike this portion of the lever 33.V This may occur-,on

1 .the'return' movement of the table 2, or on the '.forwardfeedingmovement of the meat plate, *depending upon the relative arrangement ofthe parts of thev machine. If the contact takes place during the returnmovement of the reciprocatingvtable, the bar 50 will first engage theinclined surface 46 or 48 and will forceethe bar 33 ,downwardlyV as itmoves acrossA this surface. This movement will release the catch l32from the shoulder 37 and'permit the platform 25 to move 'forwardly untilthe catch engages the shoulder 38.. `This will shift the platform 25 sothat a stack of slices will be formed in the position shown at 56 in thedrawings. lf the bar 50 should strike the lever 33 during the feedingmovement of the meat plate 3, while the reciprocating table 2 is in itsstarting position, the contact will occur upon. the inclined shoulder44, but the result will be the same and the bar 33 will be depressed torelease thetable 25, as previously described. Further forward movementof the meat plate 3 will bring the bar 50l into engagement with thesurface 43 which will again release the catch 32 and permit the platform25 to move forwardly into the third position, which is the positionshown in Fig.'2 of the drawings. In this position a third stack will beformed upon the platform 25 in the rear of the two stacks shown. `Whenthe meat plate 3 rreaches its extreme forward position the ratchetmechanism will be caused to cease to feed the meat plate forwardly bymechanism well known in the art, and the meat plate will then bereturned by the operator to its initial position and the meatre-adjusted in the clamp, ready for a new series of cuts. Atthe sametime the slices upon the platform 25 may be 'removed and the tablereturned to itsinitial position. lf at any time during a series of.slicing operations, the platform 23 is returned to its originalposition, after it has 'form will thus be automatically returned to itsproper position, corresponding to the position of the meat plate uponthe reciprocating table.

ln order that the bar 33 may thus be tripped, even though the catch 32is in engagement with the shoulder 37, when the meat plate 3 is in aforward position so that the bar 50 is opposite the beveled portion 47,it is necessary that the beveled portion 47 shall extend .downwardly asuiiicient distance to receive the end of the bar 50, even though thelever 33 is in its extreme upper position. For this reason, it will beSeen from F ig. .3 of the dra-wings, that the beveled portion 47 extendsdownwardly to al position in alinement with the lower portion of thebevel 46. This arrangement will also prevent injury which might resultfrom contact between the bar 50 and the lever 33, such as might occur ifthe bevel 47 was less eX- tensive and operations were started with themeat plate in a forward position and the platform 25 in its rearmostposition. Should this occur-with the construction shown in the drawings,the bevel 47 would move the lever 33 downwardly-an amount correspondingto two notches in the bar 35 and the platform 25 would be moved into theposition shownin'Fig. 2.

Iclaim: l. In combination, a slicing machine, means for operating saidmachine, and mechanism operated by said machine operating means`for'arranging'slices formed by said machine in a plurality of separatestacks.

2. In combination, a slicing machine, a dep vice for receiving slicesformed by said'machine, and automatic means for shifting the position ofsaid receiving device after a plurality of slices-have been depositedthereon in one position of said receiving devices.

3. In combination, a slicing machine hav,.

' ing a meat holder thereon, means for operating said meat holder stepby step over a lim ited course, means for severing a slice from a pieceof meat upon said holder for each step in thexfeeding movement thereof,and means forcollecting the slices, formed during a series of step bystep movements, in a plurality of separate stacks, said stacks beingformed successively. i

5. `In a slicing. machine, a meat holder,

mechanism for imparting a step by step movement to said holder to feedthe material thereon to a slicing knife, a platform for 'receivingslices formed by Asaid knife, and

mechanism for shifting said platform after a plurality of slices rhavebeen deposited in a stack upon said platform to change theposition inwhich slices are deposlted on said platform so that the slices formedduring a single series of feeding movements of said meatholder will bearranged in aV plurality of stacks.

6. In combination, a slicing machine having a slicing knife and aholderfor feeding material to said knife, means for discharging slices formedby said knife, a platform for receiving said slices, mechanism forshifting the position of said platform, and means controlled bythefeeding movement of said holder for causing the operation of saidshifting means after a plurality of slices have been deposited in oneposition upon said platform. 7. In combination, a slicing machine havinga slicing knife, a holder for'feeding material to Said knife, mechanismfor imparting a series of step by step movements to said holder, meansfor receiving slices formed by said knife, and mechanism fordistributing the slices on said receiving means into a plurality ofseparate piles, with a'plurality ofslices in each pile.

y 8. In combination, a slicing machine having a meat holder thereon,means for shifting the position of said meat-holder, means for receivingslices formed by said machine, and mechanism controlled by the movementof said meat holder for changing the position in which slices aredeposited on said lslice receiving means.

9. Incombination, aslicing machine having a slicing knife, a meatholder, means for p shifting the position of said meat holder forfeeding materiall to said knife, a receiver for slices formed'bysaid'knife, and mechanism controlled by said, meat holder; for changingthe position inv which slices are deposited ulpon said slice receiver.

10. In combination, a slicing machine having a slicing knife, a meatholder, means for imparting a step by step movement to said meat holderto cause said holder to feed material to said knife, a platform forreceiving slices severed from said material, means for shifting saidplatform, and mechanism controlled by said meat holder 'to cause saidshifting mechanism to operate after a series of step by step movementsof said holder and after a plurality of slices have been deposited in astack upon said platform.

. 11. In combination, a slicing machine having a slicing knife, areciprocating table, a meat holder slidably mounted iilpon saidtable.means for imparting a step by step movement to said meat holder to causesaid holder to feed material therein relative to said slicing knife, areceiver for slices severed from 4 said material, and mechanism forchanging 125 holder to be arranged in a plurality of stacks upon saidreceiver.

deposited thereon, and mechanism for con# trolling said shifting meansto regulate the height of a stack of slices upon said platform.

Yio

13. In combination, a slicing machine, a meat holder, mechanism forimparting a feeding movement to said meat holder, a l platform forreceiving slices formed by said machine, means for shifting saidplatform to change the position in Which slices are deposited thereon, acatch for controlling said shifting means, a stop member having aplura'lityof steps for controlling said catch, and means operated bysaid meat holder for engaging said stop member to operate said catch.

14. In combination, a slicing machine, means for receiving slices formedby said machine, a device for controlling said slice receivingmeanscomprisinga stop member having a plurality of steps thereon, amovable meat holder for feeding materialto be sliced, and meansconnected With said meat holder and controlled by the position thereoffor selectively engaging said steps to operate said stop member.

15. In combination, a slicing machine having a meat holder thereon,means for iin- -said machine, mechanism for adjusting said receivingmeans tochange the position in which slices are deposited thereon, andmeans A, operated by said meat holder at an intermeried by. said table,mechanism for iinpartingA a step by step movement to said meat holder,

a slice receiver, mechanism for controlling said slice receivercomprising a trip bar hav" ing inclined surfaces thereon, and meanscarried by said meat holder for engaging said inclined surfaces tooperate said trip bar.

18. In combination, a slicing machine having a reciprocating tablethereon, a meat holder carried by said table, means for 1mparting a stepby step feeding movement to said meat holder, a platform for receivingslices, resilient means for shifting said platform to change theposition in which slices are deposited upon said platform, a catchmember arranged to hold said platform against the action of saidresilient means in a plurality of different positions, and mechanism forreleasing said catch to permit' a movement yof said platform after aseries of feeding movement-s of said meat holder and after a pluralityof slices have been deposited upon said platform.

19. In combination, a slicing machine having a meat holder thereon,mechanism for feeding said meat holder through a limited course to causea plurality ofl slices to be severed from the meat on said holder, and

Omechanism for forming said slices into a plurality of stacks, eachstack being formed before another is begun.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification, onthis 8th day of October, A. D. 1917.

CORNELIS F.. M. VAN BERKEL.

